Carpet-cleaner



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. POWNALL.

(No Model.)

CARPET CLEANER.

No. 557,878. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

ANDREW H GRAHAMvPHOTD-UTHO wASmMGTmLD c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ll. POYVNALL, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARPET-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 557,878, dated April 7, 1896.

Application filed June 11,1895. Serial No. 562,454. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH II. PowNALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Carpet-Cleaner, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning, disinfecting, and rendering fabrics, draperies, carpets, upholstery of car-seats, &c., moth and insect proof.

The purpose of the invention is the con struction of an apparatus which is compact,- so as to be portable and easy of manipulation, and which can be conveniently used solely for either disinfecting, cleaning, or as an insecticide or vermin-exterminator, or for any required combination of two or more of these purposes.

The improvement consists, essentially, of the novel features and the peculiar construction and combination of the parts, which hereinafter will be more fully set forth and claimed, and which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, the charge-containing receptacles being removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a nozzle. Fig. 4:

is a detail view in section of a modified form of nozzle.

The numerals 1, 2, and 3 represent a series of similarly-constructed cylinders or vessels for containing the chemicals necessary to the successful operation of the invention, and each is supplied with a different chemical or agent, according to the nature of the requirement. The cylinder or vessel 1 is charged with aquaammonia, the cylinder or vessel 2 with corrosive sublimate, and the cylinder or vessel 3 with carbolic acid. Obviously the chemicals may be differently related and the order herein mentioned changed. A manifold l communicates with one end of each of the cylinders or vessels by means of a series of branch pipes 5, and a corresponding manifold 6 is similarly connected with the opposite end of the cylinders or vessels by means of a series of b 'anch pipes 7. The manifold 1 has a flexible or rubber tubing 8 attached thereto, and which is provided with a nozzle 9, by means of which either the medicated or dry air is directed upon the fabric or carpet to be treated. The manifold 6 communicates and has connection with a blast-pipe 10, by means of which a blast or strong current of air is conveyed to the manifold 6 in the efficient working of the apparatus. This blastpipe 10 may have connection with any suitable source of blast-creating device and, as shown, has connection with a cylinder 11, which is charged with compressed air in any of the usual ways.

Valves 12, 13, and 14: are located in the respective branch pipes 5, and are adapted to establish or cut off communication between the manifold at and the respective cylinders or vessels 1, 2, and 3. A corresponding set of valves 15, 16, and 17 are located in the length of the branch pipes 7, so as to control the communication between the manifold 6 and the respective cylinders or vessels 1, 2, and 3. Short pipes 18 extend vertically from the branch pipes 7 at a point in their length between the cylinders and the respective controlling-valves, and these vertical pipes 18 have valves 19 for opening and closing the same, for a purpose which will presently appear. The branch pipes 5 and 7 communicate with pipes 20, extending centrally through each of the cylinders or vessels 1, 2, and 3, and these pipes 20 are perforated throughout their length and are surrounded by an absorbent material 21, which is confined between the opposing sides of the cylinders and the perforated pipes.

A series of receptacles one for each of the cylinders or vessels 1, 2, and 3, are detachably connected with the vertical pipes 18 and are intended to hold the chemical with which it is desired to charge the respective cylinder or vessel. These charge-containing receptacles 22 have their lower ends tapering and provided with a valve 23 and have a corresponding valve 2% at their upper ends for controlling the blast of air when it is required to charge the respective cylinder or vessel. A vertical pipe 25 has connection with the IOO blast-pipe 10 and is supplied with a valve 26, and this vertical pipe 25 is adapted to be eonnected with either of the receptacles 22 by means of a tubing 27, so as to convey a blast of air to the receptacle when it is desired to charge the cylinder or vessel communicating therewith. This tubing 27 is detachably connected with the receptacles 22, so as'to be shifted from one to the other.

The charging of the cylinders or vessels is the same for each. Hence a detailed description of the operation of charging one will sufiice for all. Suppose it be required to charge the cylinder 1 with aqua-ammonia, the tubing 27 being arranged to connect the pipe 25 with the receptacle 22 and the valve 12 being closed, as also the valve 15, and the valves 19, 23, 2t, and 26 being opened, the blast passes through the tubing 27 into the receptacle 92 and forces the disinfectant therefrom into the perforated pipe 20 and from thence into the absorbent material 21, which becomes saturated, after which the valves 23, 21, 26, and 19 are closed, and, if required, the, receptacle 252 can be detached, thereby lightening the apparatus and rendering the same more portable.

It will be understood that after all the cylinders or vessels have been properly charged the receptacles 22 will be detached and laid aside, thereby fitting the apparatus for miscellaneous and outdoor work.

\Vhen it is required to use the apparatus for disinfecting purposes solely, the valves 1% and 17 are opened, thereby admitting of the free passage of a blast of air through the per forated pipe 20 and into the flexible tubing 8, and by means of the nozzle 9 the said medicated air is directed upon the fabric or other article to be treated.

It will be seen that the blast of air in its passage through the perforated pipe 20 will take up and become impregnated with the vapor of the carbolic acid or other disinfectant with which the absorbent material in the cylinder 3 is saturated.

For rendering fabrics, carpets, and similar articles proof against vermin the valves 13 and 16 are opened and the medicated vapor of the insecticide sprayed by means of the nozzle 9 upon the fabric or article to be treated.

hen it is required to obtain a spray of ammoniated vapor, the valves 12 and 15 are opened and the spray directed by means of the nozzle 9 upon the required article. By a proper manipulation of the several sets of valves the vapor from each of the cylinders or vessels can be directed into the manifold 1, thereby adapting the apparatus for cleaning, disinfecting, and rendering insect-proof at one operation the article to be treated.

If a blast of dry air is desired, the tubing 8 can be detached from the manifold 4E and applied to the blast-pipe 10, as will be readily understood.

The nozzle 9 is supplied with a controllingvalve 28, and is flattened and has its sides converging, so as to form a narrow outlet for the escape of a jet or spray. This nozzle is best adapted for universal application.

Fig. 4: shows a nozzle 9 especially designed for distributing medicated vapor or air and confining the same within certain limits by means of a hood or housing 32, enveloping the nozzle 33, which latter is cylindrical in form and is provided at its outer or lower side with a narrow slit or discharge-orifice 34.

It is to be understood that the number of cylinders or vessels for containing the chemicals maybe increased or diminished according to the capacity and range of the apparatus and according to the special work for which the same is designed. Therefore in constructing apparatus in accordance with the present invention it is to be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, carpets and like articles, a vessel, a perforated pipe extending through the said vessel, a blastpipe and a distributing-tube having connection with the opposite ends of the said perforated pipe, and an absorbent material surrounding the perforated pipe and located between it and the opposing sides of the said vessel to receive and be charged with the chemical designed for treating the fabric or article, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, carpets and like articles, the combination of a vessel for containing the chemical agent, a blast-pipe having communication with one end of the said vessel and having a controlling-valve, a distributing-tube having connection with the opposite end of the said vessel, a controlling-valve between the distributing-tube and the vessel, a receptacle containing the charge and having connection with the pipe communicating with the receiving end of the said vessel, and having upper and lower valves, and a tubing connecting the said receptacle with the blast-pipe, whereby the blast can be directed into the receptacle for charging the said vessel or through the latter to become impregnated with the chemical and be applied directly to the fabric or article, substantially in the manner set forth.

3. In an apparatus for treating fabrics, carpets and similar articles, the combination of aseries of vessels to be charged with the chemical agents, a blast-pipe having communication with one end of the vessels, independent valves for controlling the admission of the blast into each of the separate vessels, a manifold having connection with the opposite end of the said vessels, separate valves for con- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as trolling the communication between themanimy own I have hereto affixed my signature in fold and the vessels, and a distributing-tube the presence of two witnesses.

connected with the manifold for directing the JOSEPH H. POWNALL. 5 medicated air or vapor upon the article to be lVitnesses:

treated, substantially as described for the XVILBUR R. RUTAN,

purpose set forth. I EUGENE SNYDER. 

